WITH Muntjac deer being one of our garden s more unwelcome visitors it was not surprising that a recent Gardeners Question time panel was asked how they would go about getting rid of them. All except one of the experts at the Rotary Gardeners Question T

WITH Muntjac deer being one of our garden's more unwelcome visitors it was not surprising that a recent Gardeners' Question time panel was asked how they would go about getting rid of them.

All except one of the experts at the Rotary Gardeners' Question Time admitted defeat.

What else but a roar of laughter would be the result when the last answer, given from a row of gentlemen already extremely thin on top, was to hang up human hair.

"That is a well known fact, hang it up in tights" said my friendly local hairdresser, who is unaware of any reason why she cannot give out collected hair clippings.

It is reactions like these mixed with the serious concerning plant welfare that make this annual function so popular.

In fact, it can now be revealed that I, too, was a 'plant' in the sense that I was asked to be a source of entertainment by taking along my quince tree's discarded bark as it has now apparently decided to literally change its coat.

Hose-pipe restrictions were a topic of conversation, but the Cambridge Water Company has no plans at present to impose such a ban.

Although, of course, the 213-strong audience at Scotsdales was composed of Rotary club members from Royston, Cambridgeshire and, in fact, from all over the area where other water supplies have imposed the ban.

In previous years, the annual event has raised money for Magpas, the volunteer doctors' emergency service. The organisation is dear to David Rayner who each year provides excellent catering and the venue free of charge.

This year £2,123 was raised, of which half will be donated to Magpas; a quarter to the BBC Trustline and the rest to a new teenage cancer trust at Addenbrooke's.